The election: The time has truly come for some bipartisanship...

9 July 2016 — 9:03pm

Thanks to a fragmented Senate, it is likely we will have another three years of the inadequate government we have endured for the past three parliaments. The past nine years of government have not worked: real wages have gone down or sideways; there has been no movement on social issues such as asylum seekers in detention; same sex marriage has still not been resolved; economic growth has stalled; traditional manufacturing is almost dead; academic standards are falling; the federal budget is a mess; and there is no vision from Canberra. The list goes on. It is time to try something different and perhaps this is what the electorate was trying to tell Canberra last weekend.

Maybe the new government will have the guts to use some good old-fashioned politics to generate a truly bipartisan debate on the issues that really matter, instead of slagging off the opposition. Perhaps they could also tackle a bit of vision setting; what do we want our nation to look like in 50, or 100 years from now, and start setting the groundwork.

Matt Golding
Malcome Turnbull looking dejected in the election after party room. Captioned 'Born to Rue"

Unfortunately, the language of the past week suggests that a bipartisan approach is the last thing on anybody's mind. A pity, but I live in hope.

Jonathan Sanders, Malvern

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... and an end to media sensationalism

"Going nowhere" aptly describes the trajectory of Australian politics. Politicians seem unable to engage in sensible debate about major issues such as climate change, social justice, health, education, tax, asylum seeker treatment or immigration. Instead of delivering strategies and sound policies, their approach is to make claims/counterclaims and assertions and engage in one-upmanship, insults, blame and excuses. No wonder the population finds it hard to vote when it is bombarded with this trivia. The media focus on personality, sensationalism and hype contributes to this scenario. It is difficult to see how the situation can change until politicians take a more analytical, conciliatory approach to government.

Leigh Ackland, Deepdene

Jobs lost in false promise of globalisation

Politicians have been guided primarily by the needs of big business, leading to unstoppable globalisation and a plethora of free trade agreements. Both major parties are thus to blame for the widening gap between the rich and the rest. The middle class sat back and watched as the working class lost jobs overseas. Now the middle class is seeing its jobs disappearing. We were told globalisation would benefit the economy and increase our standard of living. Well, that hasn't happened for many of us. Voters are disillusioned, which is why so many turned to minor parties.

Anne Maki, Alphington

Crossbench senators in box seat

I hope the new crossbench senators will demand a federal anti-corruption body in return for their votes. It is amazing that neither major party has advocated setting up one to investigate the rorting of education and employment training schemes and immigration programs. Billions of dollars is being wasted. As ASIC's chairman once said, Australia is a "paradise" for white-collar criminals.

Iris Owen, East Geelong

THE FORUM

Rescind the licence

Christopher Pyne trumpets the Coalition's "election winning machine". In this recklessly driven vehicle, Mr Pyne remains unaware of the havoc wreaked on those losing automotive jobs, the community that has to do without adequate health and education funding, the bleaching Great Barrier Reef in an ever-heating world and Australia's sense of pride in a fair go. Focused entirely on the nearest finish line, driven by a divided mob, accelerating in the direction of increased inequality and dissent, a catastrophe seems almost inevitable. All we can hope is that the independents rescind the licence before this Coalition contraption crashes and burns.

Anne Hartley, Balwyn North

No longer a nobody

My appreciation to the many supporters who have mentioned me in dispatches. I no longer feel like a nobody with nothing to show for my 60-plus years. I lost my last "permanent" job two years ago, but am still counted as the fortunate "employed". A bit of a scam, really, as I work only 3 hours a week, sweeping footpaths in my local shopping centre. My wife left me when the money ran out, and my four adult kids don't help. I live with my elderly mum who feeds me from her pension fortune. In return I keep the ancient family home from falling down. Should I be counted among "the employed"?

Never mind. With the election result sewn up, I suddenly feel like somebody again. Even the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister claim to know me personally.

Jobson Growth (aka Margery Joan, Lower Templestowe)

PM lacks the ticker

Some commentators believe that a strong win for the Liberal party would have allowed Mr Turnbull to unshackle himself from his party's right-wing extremists and emerge as a champion of progressive issues. What nonsense. As PM, Turnbull hitched himself to Abbott's policies – championing big business, ignoring climate change, refusing to back health and education spending, and ranting about union corruption while ignoring corruption by financial institutions.

If Turnbull had secured a strong victory on the back of these Abbott policies, the right-wing would have been strengthened, leading to pressure to maintain such divisive policies. That Turnbull failed to change direction shows that he either shares the beliefs of Abbott and the right-wing extremists (even if he delivers the policies in a less abrasive manner) or he lacks the courage to stand up for what he believes in, in the interest of securing political advantage. Neither is palatable.

Pauline Hopkins, Beaconsfield

Scare campaigns in full

Chomping on my post-election porridge I was musing aimlessly about past election campaigns – Children overboard; weapons of mass destruction; the budget crisis; the $100 lamb roast. Then jerking me into full consciousness was the screaming headline: "MediScare – Labor's deceitful scare campaign". I nearly choked. How dare Labor!

Tony Newport, Hillwood, Tas

No remorse from ex-PM

Fronting the media after the damning findings of the Chilcot inquiry, former British PM Tony Blair says "there will not be a day of my life where I don't relive or rethink what happened". George Bush in his memoir Decision Points described the Iraq war as a "massive blow to our credibility – my credibility. I had a sickening feeling every time I thought about it – I still do".

But no such candour or remorse has been articulated by John Howard, who was equally complicit in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Responding to the Chilcot findings, all Howard could say was that his decision to send troops to Iraq was justified and had not been based on any lie. "There were errors in intelligence, but there was no lie," he said, conveniently overlooking the deliberate lies spread by the Bush administration about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. Howard added, "there were no (Australian) battle deaths in Iraq but obviously I am sorry for the wounds or injuries that everybody suffered". No regret or remorse expressed for the documented 251,000 violent civilian and combatant deaths since the 2003 invasion and the more than 200,000 injured or maimed. A pitiful and shameful response from our former PM.

Neil Hudson, Kew

Thirst for vengeance

The concept of vengeance is prominent in America. After the nation suffered thousands of casualties in 9/11 there was always going to be military action against someone, especially given the fact that neo-cons were in power. Britain and particularly Australia, being solid US allies, were always going to act in concert with the US. In this environment of revenge and obligation it was was highly likely that the evidence used to justify military action could be flimsy and/or interpreted in favour of a predetermined position.

Julian Lloyd, Clifton Hill

Susceptible to flattery

The US's determination to invade Iraq was mainly driven by domestic politics, the security of energy markets and a brutal reassertion and demonstration of military power for the world to note. George W. Bush's justification for this massive armed conflict was probably never really about WMDs at all.

This makes the Blair and Howard "flawed intelligence" defence of their involvement all the more facile and unconvincing. The long overdue Chilcot Report is both damning and pertinent to Australia, especially in regard to our lack of process in the decision to go to war. Unlike the US and Britain, our Prime Minister effectively exercises executive power in this, the gravest of all political decisions.

Without reference to the Parliament or meaningful cabinet debate, politicians are susceptible to superpower flattery and exaggerated scenarios of fear. This power of our PM needs to be reviewed and reformed so that it is actually accountable.

But in relation to US foreign policy in Iraq and Indochina, for that matter, it's not solely about strategic intelligence but also the politics.

John Phillips, Carlton North

No relief for teachers

My stomach clenched in recognition when I read "The glass trapdoor" (Sunday Life, 3/7). In our family are four qualified and experienced teachers aged 50 or over, two with master's degrees. Three have been dependent on short-term (12 months or less) contracts or relief teacher placements for some years. Two have obtained a two-year contract to work overseas in an international school, one continues to negotiate with several schools for a contract at the end of each school year, the other expects to be unemployed again at the end of this school year.

We hear constant calls for "better, more qualified" teachers. Such calls are dishonest in the extreme when so many older, experienced teachers are unemployed. They are "too expensive" compared with graduates, a big consideration when budgets for government schools are continually slashed.

Kendelle Clark, Mornington

Heritage hammered

I watched as yet another beautiful pre-war house was recently bulldozed in Canterbury, a scene that is repeated across Melbourne. One cannot help but contemplate the circumstances of how the voice of heritage has been eliminated from the development argument.

We the people are the caretakers of our increasingly rare heritage buildings. We surely deserve an equal seat at the table, but unfortunately, as only money talks in this situation, we have been silenced. Subtly but inexorably, we have moved to a situation where those who are financially motivated are now judge, jury and executioner of the fates of these buildings.

So next time we look, dewy eyed, at a picture of how our city was, consider how this happened on our watch and with our silent consent.

Mark Sullivan, Camberwell

Boxy Hill blues

Box Hill is to be a mini CBD with 10 towers greater than 25 storeys, topping out at a massive 36. These towers comprise more than 2000 apartments. Box Hill's founding fathers showed remarkable foresight with their choice of a name for the area.

Graham Cadd, Surrey Hills

Uber: the truth

Please stop referring to Uber as a "ride sharing" service. It is a taxi service. Their cars operate in the same way as registered taxis, except they do not undergo annual roadworthy checks, and they do not have commercial insurance in the event of a collision. Uber drivers are not subject to spot licence and vehicle checks by taxi inspectors. Uber cars pick you up and take you where you want to go, and you do not have to "share your ride" with a stranger. It is a taxi service – without the safety nets.